Some questions and answers
Bird or Avian Flu is in the news, and there is a lot of concern about what it is and how to avoid it. We have put together some answers to the most common questions and useful links and telephone numbers of organisations that can provide more advice and help.
Information and advice is being constantly updated, so it is a good idea to keep checking back occasionally.
What is Avian Flu – or bird flu?
Avian influenza, AI and bird flu are the same thing (avian means bird). Avian flu is a highly infectious disease that affects many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. Some strains of avian influenza may have the capacity to affect other animals and humans – particularly those in close contact with poultry.
More information:
• Defra - Avian influenza (bird flu): The basics
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Can I still eat chicken?
Yes. There is no risk of catching bird flu by eating chicken. Remember all poultry must be cooked until the juices run clear in any case.
More information:
• Food Standards Agency - Bird Flu: your questions answered
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How is avian flu passed on?
Remember this is disease of birds, so it is passed on through being in contact with other sick birds, including their faeces, contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing.
More information:
• Defra - Transmission
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Where has it come from?
Instances of avian flu have been around for over 100 years since it was first observed in Italy in 1878. The latest strain of the virus is called H5N1, and has evolved in Asia, where most of the outbreaks have occurred in the last 18 months.
More information:
• Defra - Outbreak
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What is Bradford Council doing about it?
The Council’s role is to support DEFRA – the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In the event of an outbreak, Defra will coordinate the response at a national and local level.
The Council will help enforce restriction zones around infected premises and monitor the movement of commercial birds within those zones. It also provides information to farmers and those in rural areas, and will assist with monitoring the spread of any outbreak.
Staff are being trained on what to do if a dead bird is discovered and provided with up to date information so they can answer any questions. This website will be kept up to date with the latest information
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My neighbour keeps chickens. Am I at risk?
It is most unlikely that unless you are in close contact with your neighbour’s birds, that they pose any sort of risk. If your neighbour has more than 50 birds, he will have been required to register with Defra by the end of February 2006. If he has fewer, he can still register voluntarily. This means the situation can be monitored very closely. The Council is encouraging voluntary registration so that anyone with birds can be contacted quickly should the need arise.
More information:
• Defra - Great Britain Poultry Register
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I have a few chickens. What should I be doing to prevent any risk?
As a poultry keeper you will be used to following good hygiene precautions, which are also important in reducing the risk of exposure to avian flu or other zoonotic diseases as they are sometimes called.
How people become infected with zoonotic diseases varies, but it commonly includes hand to mouth contact with contaminated objects, inhaling or swallowing minute infective particles, and in some cases via cuts or by absorbing them through the lining of nose or eyes. The main risk of infection from avian influenza is from close contact with sick and dead or dying infected poultry or contaminated dust and faeces.
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Avoiding the risk of infection
- Wash hands (and arms if necessary) before eating, drinking, smoking, using the telephone, taking medication, applying make-up, inserting contact lenses
- Cover all new and existing cuts and grazes with waterproof dressings and/or gloves before dealing with your poultry. If cuts and grazes occur, wash immediately with soap and running water and apply a waterproof dressing
More information:
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I’ve got racing pigeons / an aviary/ birds at home. What should I do?
Talk to your vet for individual advice. Birds can only be infected by contact with other infected birds or through infected feed (see above). If your bird does not leave the aviary, it is very unlikely to encounter a source of infection.
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I have found a dead bird in the garden. What should I do?
Defra has very good advice on what to do if you find dead birds in your garden or in a public place. They advise not to touch dead birds without adequate protection, such as disposable gloves, and to follow strict hygiene rules. If you find one or more dead swans/wild fowl (ducks and geese), more than 3 dead birds of the same species or more than 5 dead birds of different species, in the same place, you should contact the Defra Helpline (08459 33 55 77). Currently the Helpline is available between the following hours Monday - Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday - Sunday 9am to 6pm. You will be asked for details of your finding and its location.
The current advice is
| 3 or more dead birds of the same species found in one location | Pick up using disposable gloves and a plastic bag. Dispose of the bag and the gloves in a refuse bin. Wash your hands with hot soapy water |
| Less than 5 dead birds of differing species (not including duck, geese and swans) | Pick up using disposable gloves and a plastic bag. Dispose of the bag and the gloves in a refuse bin. Wash your hands with hot soapy water |
| 3 or more dead birds of the same species found in one location | Contact DEFRA on the following hotline number 08459 335577 Ensure no-one, including yourself, touches the birds |
| 5 or more dead birds of differing species found in one location | Contact DEFRA on the following hotline number 08459 335577 Ensure no-one, including yourself, touches the birds |
| Any dead duck, goose or swan | Contact DEFRA on the following hotline number 08459 335577 Ensure no-one, including yourself, touches the birds |
More information:
• Defra - Wild Birds
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I feed the ducks in the park with my grandson and feed the wild birds at home in my garden. Can I still do this?
The RSPB advises that there is only one recorded instance where a human case may have resulted from contact with infected wild birds. The overwhelming majority of the 175 human cases worldwide have resulted from close contact with infected domestic poultry. The disease is currently not easily transmitted from human to human.
Although the risk of contracting the disease from a wild bird is very low, you are advised not to touch any sick or dead birds, their droppings, or water near them.
It is extremely unlikely that avian influenza could be transmitted to people by feeding birds in the garden, but good hygiene at bird feeding stations is sensible, in any case.
More information:
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) - Hygiene - vital precautions
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I want to go for a walk / horse riding / cycling in the countryside. Is this a problem?
No. We want people to continue to use and enjoy the countryside. If you see a dead bird, follow the advice given before – don’t touch it, report it to Defra. All footpaths, bridleways, coastal walks and cycle tracks in the countryside are still open and will remain open. In the event of an outbreak, paths and access in the immediate vicinity of the infected premises may not be open, but there will be signs to tell you not to use the routes. It will not be like foot and mouth where large areas of the countryside were inaccessible.
More information:
• Defra - Access to countryside
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My cat sometimes catches garden birds. Could she get infected?
The current H5N1 strain of avian flu virus does not transmit easily from birds to mammals.
However, a few cats have caught the disease through eating infected birds in Thailand and recently a single cat died of H5N1 on the island of Rugen in the German Baltic, but the cat was in an area where hundreds of wild water birds had died of the disease.
The risk of a domestic cat in the UK contracting the disease is remote. H5N1 has not been detected in the UK, and the vast majority of garden birds killed by cats are not those species most at risk of carrying the disease. The RSPB, along with the RSPCA, the British Veterinary Association and the Feline Advisory Bureau, urges people not to abandon pet cats (or any other pets); this would be cruel and may have an additional impact on wildlife.
As always, people should observe good hygiene with respect to pet animals, and should illness present itself, consult their veterinary surgeon at the earliest opportunity.
More information:
• British Veterinary Association (BVA) - Policy Brief: Avian Influenza in Cats and other Mammals
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Why can’t we vaccinate all our birds against avian flu?
We can’t vaccinate all wild birds, and many of them migrate, which is why the disease may spread into the UK. Vaccinating domestic birds is possible in certain circumstances, but each bird needs to be done individually, and it takes up to 3 weeks for a bird to acquire immunity. It is not practical to do every bird.
More information:
• Defra - Controls
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Will this be like foot and mouth?
No. This is a completely different disease. It is transmitted differently and is not an airborne disease. Therefore access to the countryside will not be so restricted, with only the immediate vicinity of infected premises being out of bounds. A 3km ‘surveillance’ zone will be imposed around infected premises that allows Defra & the council to monitor other poultry keeping premises in the area. A 10km ‘protection’ zone will also be in force, prohibiting the movement of poultry, eggs, carcasses, farm machinery and other farm items, except under licence.
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I don’t feel very well. I’m worried I might have flu…
Talk to your doctor if you’re at all worried.
More information:
• NHS Direct - Avian Flu - or call NHS direct on 0845 46 47 (24 hours)
• Department of health - Controlling Infection
An explanation of Avian Flu is also available
More information:
• Department of Health - Explaining pandemic flu: A guide from the Chief Medical Officer
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